CS Energy employees and representatives of the Gangalu People gathered at Callide Power Station yesterday (14 February) for a ceremony to acknowledge the area’s rich Indigenous heritage and unveil an artwork by a local Indigenous artist.
The ceremony included a Welcome to Country and traditional smoking ceremony with paperbark and fig leaves before the unveiling of an artwork by local Gangalu artist James Waterton.
CS Energy commissioned Mr Waterton to paint an artwork for display in the foyer of Callide Power Station to acknowledge the traditional owners that host the company’s operations.
Callide Power Station is located on the traditional land of the Gaangulu Nation People and the sub-group Gangalu People inhabited the region of the Callide Dawson Valley.
Acting Executive General Manager Operations Mark Albertson said the ceremony was about paying respect to traditional owners and recognising their deep spiritual connection to the land, waters and community.
“CS Energy is committed to working with the Gaangulu Nation People and the Gangalu People to ensure we operate in a culturally sensitive way at Callide Power Station,” Mr Albertson said.
Mr Waterton’s artwork displays the carpet snake (Gujunara) and palm tree, which are both totems of the Gangalu People. He grew up in Rockhampton, Mount Morgan and Woorabinda and started painting as a small boy.
CS Energy recently installed plaques at all of its sites to recognise the local traditional owners that host its operations and is working to lift the percentage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) people in its workforce.
As part of its Inclusion and Diversity activities, CS Energy has established targets to lift the percentage of ATSI people in its workforce to three percent by 2022, in line with the Commonwealth ATSI Employment Strategy.